Actually finishing Scribblenauts might be a problem

by Chris Greenhough { Jan 7th 2009 at 3:00PM }

So, um, here's the problem with a game like Scribblenauts, in which you can make any item appear on screen, simply by writing its name: rather than solving puzzles and making actual progress, people like us are just going to get distracted, and spend all of our time assembling hilarious scenes of non sequitur chaos that amuse our feeble brains.

The latest screens at IGN display the potential for this perfectly. There's a shot featuring protagonist Maxwell playing volleyball with a penguin, who is both a fan of iced tea and the proud owner of an igloo with satellite TV. Another sees Maxwell facing up to zombies, blocking his way to an escape helicopter. Then there's the bizarre cook-off you see to the right. The distractions are ... kind of endless.

Gallery: Scribblenauts

Tags: 5th-cell, action, platform, puzzle, scribblenauts

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

aj @ Jan 7th 2009 3:13PM

I wonder just how many words the game recognizes. If I wrote, for example, "Zulu warrior", could I get one? Or perhaps "18th century European monarch"?

Nazi @ Jan 8th 2009 11:13AM

both aren't really words.

Blue_Falcon @ Jan 7th 2009 3:28PM

I wonder if you'd be able to create your own items/people/settings in the game?

I'm pretty sure if they make that possible (for this game, or maybe a next) that it would make this game outrageously good for machinima-type stuff. I doubt you'd be able to make good video out of it (especially if you have to write every thing out when you want it to appear) but Scribblenaut comics would be a blast to make.

Nutmeg @ Jan 7th 2009 5:43PM

I have a feeling this is a must-have game for even me.

Peter R. @ Jan 7th 2009 6:46PM

This game is looking really good. It would be great if it included some garry's mod type functionality: custom objects, custom animations, ability to make a comic strip from it, and make your own puzzles (like your own private sandbox). Like Blue falcon said this would be great for DS machinima. It be great if they released it for the DSi and added SD card functionality. Even without all that, I'm still buying this game. So heres to hoping 5th Cell does this right.

Sora @ Jan 7th 2009 11:53PM

Custom objects? We all know some 12 year old is going to be making penises aplenty.

Peter R. @ Jan 8th 2009 5:22AM

I was kinda hoping the immature adolescents, would be too preoccupied with their Xbox Live ritual to actually notice a game like Scribblenauts. But I guess that's just wishful thinking, it doesn't look like I'll be getting my custom objects or animations.
There has to be at least custom puzzles, right .. right?